Card skimmers are only one of many ways people can get your most private digits.

A card skimmer — a device used to illegally steal people's debit or credit card information — was found at an automated banking machine at the Pilot Travel Center in Muddy Creek Township, police said Friday afternoon.

Pilot's external communications specialist Stephanie Myers responded to the skimmers in a statement.

“We immediately contacted authorities as soon as we were notified of the issue,” Myers said. “We are continuing to work closely with authorities and our ATM provider.”

Myers said anyone concerned that they may be victimized should contact the local police and their bank or financial institution immediately.

Caitlin Driscoll, public relations director of the Better Business Bureau of Western Pennsylvania, said the most important thing is for people to monitor their finances.

“With credit card skimming and credit card scams in general, it's extremely important for people to be aware and check their financial statements on a consistent basis,” Driscoll said.

Driscoll said skimmers have become increasingly discrete, but there are still telltale signs of tampering.

“If the reader seems a little different from you're used to or bulkier, then try and give it a little wiggle,” Driscoll said.

She said she also recommends not using stand-alone ATMs. Use instead those monitored by a bank or credit union.

Driscoll said another way to avoid skimming specifically is by making sure your card is up-to-date.

“Upgrade your card,” she said. “I think a lot of financial institutions are upgrading to the chips in most cards.”

Scammers typically need to make a replica card and matching fake identification to use the stolen information, according to Driscoll.

The chip creates a unique signature for each purchase, which makes it harder for scammers to replicate, while the magnetic strip signature of a conventional card remains constant and easier to counterfeit.

Driscoll said the scary part is that skimmers are only one of many known ways for scammers to steal credit and debit card data.